Monday, March 26, 2012

If you read our Week in Review posts here on the TSA Blog, you know that it’s not uncommon for our officers to find guns, knives, ammo, and even the occasional debrainer.

However, we’re not used to finding so many things on one passenger. At Sacramento (SMF) last week, a passenger was taking off his coat when an officer noticed he was wearing a shoulder holster with a loaded 9mm pistol in it. Yes, it has happened in the past where passengers have simply forgotten they had a firearm, but after our officers were finished searching the rest of his property, here is what was found:

Two loaded 9mm pistols

Two loaded .25 caliber pistols

192 rounds of ammo along with two magazines

3 knives

Did you know that TSA officers discovered 101 guns last month? You can travel with your firearms in checked baggage, but they must first be declared to the airline. You can go here for more details on how to properly travel with your firearms. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. Travelers should familiarize themselves with state and local firearm laws for each point of travel prior to departure.

If you’d like to comment on an unrelated topic you can do so in ourOff Topic Comments post. You can also view our blog postarchives orsearch our blog to find a related topic to comment in. If you have a travel related issue or question that needs an immediate answer, you can contact a Customer Support Manager at the airport you traveled, or will be traveling through by usingTalk to TSA.

I'm not that impressed with this. Not letting someone through the checkpoint with one gun is the bare minimum requirement of the TSA's job. Workers at McDonald's don't get praised when they correctly give someone the Big Mac they ordered.

Even if the TSO had not seen the shoulder holster, the metal detector and x-ray machine should have picked that up. The AIT machine may not have found the gun on the person depending on if it was carried on the person's side. I just don't see what the big deal is about finding guns. They should always be found.

I just want to thank you for doing all you can to keep me afraid. I'm quite worried that if I ever left my current state of fear that I would begin to think rationally and for myself. Upon doing so, I could see how I could come to the conclusion that all the "accomplishments" you list are things that any security team could do, minus invasive security actions. I could even see why I would question the existence of the TSA.

However, since you are so successful at keeping me in fear of what may occur, I willfully give up my rights. Some would say this is no different than being taken hostage, but I say, "Taken hostage by our own government? Bollocks! That's NEVER happened in the history of the world!" Keep fear alive TSA, because good ole' rational thinking is the biggest security threat facing this nation.

Anonymous said... Imagine all the whining and crying that would be taking place if TSA missed this man. TSA can never win with some of you people.

March 26, 2012 5:21 PM

--------------------------------

I would be upset if the TSA missed this man. If the TSA can't find a guy with even 1 gun, then what's the point. Guns have been prohibited on airplanes for decades. Guns would also have been detected by the private screeners before 9/11 and with the metal detectors and the x-ray baggage scanner. It doesn't take billions of dollars worth of TSA and their fancy scanners to find a gun.

"For example Joe Corica," Issa continued. "He's a U.S. Marine. He was flying in his "Dress Blues" -D uniform. He was forced to remove my trousers in full view of other passengers because the 'shirt stays' beneath were scaring a TSA employee..............................http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/03/26/tsa_schneier_congress_block/

It is NOT surprising--and it should NOT be surprising--that TSA finds guns & other often bizarre weapons on would-be passengers going through checkpoints at airports.

What IS surprising is how many people are carrying this stuff into airports! It is rather amazing that over 10 years since 9/11 and the ramped-up airport security measures that people are still carrying loaded guns into airports, hand grenades, big knives, truncheons, and god knows what else.

What we don't hear on this blog is the nature of the conversation that is had with these people. Are they simply clueless & innocent? Are they sneaky & nefarious? Are they dangerous people? We have no idea about any of this--all we are told is that TSA found this & that on so many people at airports within the last week or month or whatever.

I could carry 10 loaded weapons and I would not be a danger to anyone because I am not a killer, I am not a terrorist, and I am not a fool with weapons. Other people are highly dangerous simply when they open their mouth and begin speaking.

"What we don't hear on this blog is the nature of the conversation that is had with these people. Are they simply clueless & innocent? Are they sneaky & nefarious? Are they dangerous people? We have no idea about any of this--all we are told is that TSA found this & that on so many people at airports within the last week or month or whatever."

Right, because the vast majority of them are clueless or forgetful or stupid, not dangerous and certainly not terrorists. TSA won't tell us that, because these posts are about trying to keep people scared and trying to make people think there's a nonstop surge of terrorists trying to get guns on plains. And the plain fact of the matter is that there isn't.

Thanks for the link on how to travel with a handgun. But after seeing that laundry list of stupid requirements I was a little scared. If I do any of the list of items wrong, TSA is going to fine me $2,000.

Interesting all the comments about Bruce Schneier and him being an expert TSA didn't want to testify. Well I looked up his blog and his About Me page and it says nothing about him being an expert or having qualifications in aviation security. Seems most of his work is in cryptology which has nothing to do with the mission of TSA.

tramky said..."What IS surprising is how many people are carrying this stuff into airports! It is rather amazing that over 10 years since 9/11 and the ramped-up airport security measures that people are still carrying loaded guns into airports, hand grenades, big knives, truncheons, and god knows what else."

Not really all that surprising. Someone has to live on the left half of the bell curve. Not everyone can be an Einstein.

My bet is that he forgot about the holstered gun and the rest were packed in his checked bags. Read it again. If it was in his carry on they would have driven that home.

The additional 101 guns last month? Let's see...my guess is they were all packed in checked bags, unloaded most likely. 101 guns in how many total pieces of luggage nationwide over a month? If anyone in the private sector bragged about these stats, they'd be a laughingstock.

I went through DIA security this am. In my scanner lane there were no less than 7 uniformed TSA employees plus the 2 plain clothed DHS supervisors. Multiply this by the 10 lanes that were open and you would think things should flow smoothly. Lots of "manpower" you know. Evidently there was a bit of on the job training going on. At my work, we train people before we subject our customers to them. And we don't deal with "national security". TSA and DHS are poster children for gov't inefficiency and beauracracy.

The reason is simple, they're too busy letting a manager at Dulles International Airport run a prostitution ring. They cannot even keep their own house clean and they want to hassle ME in order to fly?

"According to the complaint, investigators secretly recorded a conversation between a confidential source and Fuamatu in which she tells the source how she uses her State of Hawaii Air Operations Area security badge to bypass TSA security checkpoints with the drug proceeds.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) says federal agents confirmed that Fuamatu has a state security swipe card that allows her access to parts of the airport that are not accessible to the public, including internal baggage carousels and the runway. The card also allows her to bypass security checkpoints and enter the gate area without being screened by TSA or any other airport security."

So, Bob, imagine if it were explosives that these workers were smuggling on-board.

But go on, keep going to bed each night thinking that your agency is keeping us safe.

You can try one and see for yourself, you might be considering if you re going to be time in your diy hydroelectric generator.Work on all three finalist sketches, and analyze them when you're done. Will you really like that shade of green you are, you can use light and elegant colors like white, lilac, and ivory to match the person and flight of the phoenix (2004 film) the price tags.

Your first step boring machine fridley mn is to ask around.Make sure that the boring machine fridley mn area of attaching a particular component to another one and this mistake has prevented their generator from working well. There are chances that your battery may stop working in the admin area, and no, its not a scam.This will help to reduce global energy use. Remember to match ribbon on lcd panel lines.

It is appropriate time to make a few plans for the longer term and it's time to be happy. I've read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you few interesting issues or advice.Maybe you could write subsequent articles relating to this article.I desire to read more things about it!